Analysis of Informed Consent, Patients Autonomy on Legal and Ethical Aspects of Health Information Management in University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital Complex [uith] Ilorin

ABSTRACT This study was carried out to Investigate analysis of informed consent, patients autonomy on legal and ethical aspects of health information management in university of Ilorin teaching hospital complex [UITH] Ilorin. The objectives are to; Assess the level of knowledge and awareness of legal and ethical aspect of HIM on Informed consent and patient autonomy in UITH Ilorin; Analyze the impact of patient consent on legal and ethical aspects of HIM in UITH Ilorin; Examine the challenges of informed consent, patient autonomy on legal and ethical aspects of HIM in UITH Ilorin.
Primary data was collected for the study through questionnaire administration. The study adopted a descriptive survey design. Total enumeration technique was used for the 79 sample of the total population. 79 questionnaires was administered and 79 copies were retrieved back for analysis indicating 100% response rate, Statistical package for social sciences was used to analyze the data gathered from the respondent to generate frequency count, percentage distribution, mean and standard deviation.
 The study indicate a high level of awareness and knowledge among healthcare professionals at UITH regarding legal and ethical aspects of informed consent and patient autonomy. A significant majority (82.3%) agree or strongly agree that they are familiar with the legal requirements for obtaining informed consent.
The findings demonstrate that obtaining informed consent is perceived to enhance the quality of care, with 82.3% agreeing and 17.7% strongly agreeing with this statement. 78.5% of the respondent agreed that Patients’ limited literacy levels can affect their ability to understand informed consent documents and 21.5% of the respondent strongly agreed. And the study lastly reveals that, a lack of standardized procedures for obtaining informed consent is identified as a significant issue, with 49.4% of respondents strongly disagreeing with the presence of such standards.
 The study concluded that there should be an advocate for legal reforms to strengthen the frameworks governing informed consent and patient autonomy in Nigeria, aligning them with international best practices and Invest in the computerization of health information systems to enhance patient privacy, streamline consent processes, and improve overall HIM practices. Based on research findings, there should be Implementation comprehensive training programs focusing on legal and ethical aspects of HIM, ensuring all healthcare professionals are adequately equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills.